University Southern California Trojans
6-Points: Cal 15, USC 14
November 11, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
For the first time since 2003, USC loses to Cal.
Nightmare Quarter
USC played a dominant first half to take a 14-0 lead and while it could have been bigger if not for a failed fake field goal attempt and a fumble in the red zone, the Trojans appeared to be in a comfortable position. All that changed quickly in the third quarter. First, a wild shotgun snap created a safety. Cal followed with two quick touchdowns in succession, and USC's lead evaporated less than 10 minutes into the third quarter. "It's not one specific play or one specific player, we made enough to lose a football game against a good football team. And that's my responsibility," head coach Clay Helton said.
Emotional Low
As to be expected with a game between familiar rivals, trash talking was a constant theme of the night. However, the Trojans made the mistake of letting it take them out of their game. "We came out flat in the second half and things started getting chippy," senior CB Jonathan Lockett said. "Emotions were high and we went low. We can't do that." USC was about to get the ball back for one final drive late in the fourth quarter when senior CB Iman Marshall picked up a killer unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. "Our guys are sportsmen and believe in being first-class," Helton said. "They are very competitive people. Like I said, one player did not lose a football game tonight. We had a call go against us and I know [Marshall's] sick about it. But that one play did not lose the football game."
First Half O vs. Second Half O
Freshman QB JT Daniels was razor sharp in the first half, completing 15/20 with two touchdowns. Plus, the Trojans were running the ball effectively. However, in the second half, the USC offense gained only 41 total yards. "Offensively we were in a flow in the first half, then they come up with two turnovers in the second half and that flow kind of stopped," Helton said. "We were making fourth downs in the first half and just didn't make them in that third quarter especially."
Short Fields
The USC defense had its way with Cal for most of the night, holding the Bears to 207 yards of offense, a season low for the Trojans. "For me, I thought the turnovers in the second half were critical," Helton said. "I don't know if our defense can play any better than they did." The Bears scored all their points on short fields, getting the ball at midfield after the safety and at USC's 40 after the interception.
Big Picture
Helton made it clear after the game that he believes this program will recover from what has become a disappointing season. "Yes I believe this is going to change," he said. "I'm sorry for the 5-5 season right now. But better days are to come. Programs I've seen across the country, win a Rose Bowl, win a Pac-12 Championship and then have an off season and then come right back. As a matter of fact, we're going to compete against one of them in about two weeks. Sometimes you have a season that just doesn't go your way. I believe in this coaching staff. I believe in the leadership and in the players most of all. I believe there are better days ahead."
Rivalry Week
While the Pac-12 championship is out of USC's reach, the Trojans will have plenty of motivation this week, needing a win to get bowl eligible and taking on the Bruins. "The game of football is fun. And that rivalry is fun," captain Cameron Smith said. "It's about us going out there and when we're having fun and making plays it's all working out for us. For me, it's not about what our record is. We have to go out there and play our game of football. I think we're better than what we played tonight. There's not going to be falloff from me at this stage. Two games to look forward to and that's the last for a lot of us. Every game is important and we're just going out there and we gotta have a great week of practice and look forward for UCLA."
USC played a dominant first half to take a 14-0 lead and while it could have been bigger if not for a failed fake field goal attempt and a fumble in the red zone, the Trojans appeared to be in a comfortable position. All that changed quickly in the third quarter. First, a wild shotgun snap created a safety. Cal followed with two quick touchdowns in succession, and USC's lead evaporated less than 10 minutes into the third quarter. "It's not one specific play or one specific player, we made enough to lose a football game against a good football team. And that's my responsibility," head coach Clay Helton said.
Emotional Low
As to be expected with a game between familiar rivals, trash talking was a constant theme of the night. However, the Trojans made the mistake of letting it take them out of their game. "We came out flat in the second half and things started getting chippy," senior CB Jonathan Lockett said. "Emotions were high and we went low. We can't do that." USC was about to get the ball back for one final drive late in the fourth quarter when senior CB Iman Marshall picked up a killer unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. "Our guys are sportsmen and believe in being first-class," Helton said. "They are very competitive people. Like I said, one player did not lose a football game tonight. We had a call go against us and I know [Marshall's] sick about it. But that one play did not lose the football game."
First Half O vs. Second Half O
Freshman QB JT Daniels was razor sharp in the first half, completing 15/20 with two touchdowns. Plus, the Trojans were running the ball effectively. However, in the second half, the USC offense gained only 41 total yards. "Offensively we were in a flow in the first half, then they come up with two turnovers in the second half and that flow kind of stopped," Helton said. "We were making fourth downs in the first half and just didn't make them in that third quarter especially."
Short FieldsThe USC defense had its way with Cal for most of the night, holding the Bears to 207 yards of offense, a season low for the Trojans. "For me, I thought the turnovers in the second half were critical," Helton said. "I don't know if our defense can play any better than they did." The Bears scored all their points on short fields, getting the ball at midfield after the safety and at USC's 40 after the interception.
Big Picture
Helton made it clear after the game that he believes this program will recover from what has become a disappointing season. "Yes I believe this is going to change," he said. "I'm sorry for the 5-5 season right now. But better days are to come. Programs I've seen across the country, win a Rose Bowl, win a Pac-12 Championship and then have an off season and then come right back. As a matter of fact, we're going to compete against one of them in about two weeks. Sometimes you have a season that just doesn't go your way. I believe in this coaching staff. I believe in the leadership and in the players most of all. I believe there are better days ahead."
Rivalry Week
While the Pac-12 championship is out of USC's reach, the Trojans will have plenty of motivation this week, needing a win to get bowl eligible and taking on the Bruins. "The game of football is fun. And that rivalry is fun," captain Cameron Smith said. "It's about us going out there and when we're having fun and making plays it's all working out for us. For me, it's not about what our record is. We have to go out there and play our game of football. I think we're better than what we played tonight. There's not going to be falloff from me at this stage. Two games to look forward to and that's the last for a lot of us. Every game is important and we're just going out there and we gotta have a great week of practice and look forward for UCLA."
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